This is more or less a shameless plug for organizations that work with men or involve men in pursuit of the goal of creating a more equitable world for all genders. While I am critical of some of these efforts on tactical grounds, what’s most important is that there are thousands of organizations and millions of individual men all over the world who seek to liberate themselves and others from the open-air prison that gender can often become. Whether they identify with the label or not men are feminists.
I would be remiss if I did not mention Men Can Stop Rape (MCSR), the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that works primarily with men to address sexism and violence against women. While our paths have diverged since, MCSR’s “Men of Strength Club” was instrumental in recruiting me into the movement over a decade ago as a passionate undergraduate seeking direction. It turned out that a college campus was the perfect context to get involved in gender justice. Not only do college campuses serve as a hunting ground for predatory men, they also provide vital programming to combat violence against women. I was involved in prevention, advocacy, and outreach efforts until graduation.
Soon thereafter I volunteered for the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), which is the largest organization of its kind in the country. It’s a great nexus for survivors of sexual violence or their loved ones to find resources and information. For those who have not been directly affected, there is no better way to understand the realities of sexual violence than to train and serve as a crisis counselor. This was a life-altering experience for me, and I cannot stress enough how important it is for men to get involved despite how difficult and controversial this can be. I hate to plug celebrities, but if it gets more men involved, I will mention that professional wrestler Mick Foley (aka “Mankind”) has served as a crisis counselor for RAINN. Plus I like him because he defies stereotypes.
For those looking to get involved on a local level, most states have rape crisis centers that offer hotline crisis counseling as well as advocacy and prevention programming. When I lived in D.C., I volunteered for the DC Rape Crisis Center, and it was a powerful and gratifying experience to be asked to deliver workshops on sexual violence to new recruits. I am currently applying for opportunities that would position me to deliver similar workshops to young men in various contexts. The need for primary prevention is enormous, and it should start at home.
This is just a small window into the life of a male feminist. Outside of direct action or service, there are publications, such as Voice Male, XY Online, and the site on which you are reading this. There are anti-violence initiatives, such as Men Stopping Violence and MVP Strategies. There is no dearth of opportunities for men to get involved if they know where to look.
Perhaps most importantly, a man does not have to attend the Women’s March (another shameless plug), donate to Planned Parenthood (and another), or do any of the above to be a feminist. He can start by attempting to view the world from a woman’s perspective — particularly that of a woman who lacks privilege and power — such as a sexual assault survivor. This small act of empathy will go a long way toward achieving gender equality.
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Male Stereotype Number One: Men Don’t Cry
Male Stereotype Number Two: Men Don’t Ask for Directions
Male Stereotype Number Three: Men are Competitive
Male Stereotype Number Four: Men Don’t Cook
Male Stereotype Number Five: Men are Warriors
Male Stereotype Number Six: Men Are Clumsy
Male Stereotype Number Seven: Men Are Aggressive
Male Stereotype Number Eight: Men are Either Good or Evil
Male Stereotype Number Nine: Men Can’t Be Friends with Women
Male Stereotype Number Ten: Men are Strong
Male Stereotype Number 11: Men are Breadwinners
Male Stereotype Number 12: Men Don’t Refuse Sex
Male Stereotype Number 13: Men ‘Manspread’
Male Stereotype Number 14: Men ‘Mansplain’
Male Stereotype Number 15: Men Don’t Listen
Male Stereotype Number 16: Men Are Better Drivers
Male Stereotype Number 17: Men Like Porn
Male Stereotype Number 18: Men Don’t Do Therapy
Male Stereotype Number 19: Men Can’t Handle Commitment
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https://pixabay.com/en/women-march-2018-women-s-march-3422243/